Which districts does Biel/Bienne have?

Ten: Rebberg, Altstadt, Neustadt Nord, Neustadt Süd, Champagne, Bözingen, Mett, Madretsch Nord, Madretsch Süd and Vingelz. Almost all of them also have a French name, such as Boujean, Mâche or Vigneules. The Neustadt forms the centre; Vingelz, Bözingen, Mett and Madretsch were incorporated between 1900 and 1919.

Which districts are suitable for families?

That depends on the school route, place of work and budget. The Neustadt and Old Town are central with short distances, while Madretsch , Mett , Bözingen and Vingelz are former neighbouring municipalities outside the centre. Ask the city which school is responsible for your address and in which language lessons are taught.

Is Biel/Bienne really bilingual?

Yes. Biel/Bienne is the largest bilingual city in Switzerland ; German and French are official languages with equal status, anchored in the city's constitution since 1996. Street names are bilingual, and the city provides information in both languages. In everyday life the «Biel model» applies: whoever starts the conversation chooses the language.

Which employers are there in Biel/Bienne?

Biel is the most important centre of the Swiss watch industry: the Swatch Group has its headquarters here, Rolex a production site and Omega its factory in the Gurzelen; the watch industry federation FH is also based in Biel. Then there is the administration and the Bern University of Applied Sciences.

How good are the transport links in Biel/Bienne?

Biel lies on the Jura foot line , the important west–east link from Geneva via Biel and Olten to Zurich and on to St. Gallen; there are also connections to Bern. Since the eastern bypass of the A5 was completed in 2017, car traffic in the city has eased. Within the city, trolleybuses and buses operate.

Is Biel/Bienne a good place for students?

Yes, several departments of the Bern University of Applied Sciences are in Biel, as is the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport in Magglingen; the Bern University of the Arts teaches here too, among other places at the Swiss Literary Institute. For a room at the start of term, a shared load is often enough instead of a lorry of your own.

What leisure activities does Biel/Bienne offer?

On Lake Biel you can swim, sail and go for walks, and the Jura begins directly above the city. In September the Biel photography festival takes place, Switzerland's only annual photo festival, and in June the Biel running days with the 100 km race. The Old Town offers restaurants and bars.

How does registration work after moving to Biel/Bienne?

Within 14 days at the residents' registration office , Neuengasse 28: Swiss citizens register via eUmzugCH, by post, email or at the counter, with a copy of their travel document and signed tenancy agreement. EU/EFTA citizens from abroad send the forms within 14 days to the Migration Office at the same address.

Can I also move from Biel/Bienne to Berlin?

Yes, we plan the reverse journey in exactly the same way: survey, fixed price, loading in Biel and around 950 km to Berlin. Before leaving, you deregister with the residents' registration office; in Berlin you register at the Bürgeramt (registration office) within two weeks (§ 17 BMG). On request, we apply for the parking restriction outside the Berlin address.

What should I bear in mind when moving into Biel's Old Town?

In the Old Town (Vieille ville) , only a small part may be driven on by car, at a maximum of 20 km/h; many buildings have narrow stairwells. Clarify early where the removal van can stop and whether a permit from the city is needed. We ask about the floor, stair width and carrying distances in advance and plan enough movers and time, with a furniture lift if needed.

When is the residents' registration office in Biel/Bienne open?

The counters at Neuengasse 28 are open on Mondays from 9 to 11.30 and 13.30 to 18, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 11.30 and 13.30 to 16.30, on Wednesdays from 9 to 16.30 and on Fridays from 9 to 11.30. On Monday, 2 November 2026, the office is exceptionally closed. You can reach the residents' registration office by phone on 032 326 12 25.

How do I dispose of heavy furniture in Biel/Bienne?

Items over 25 kilograms count as extra bulky waste. Collection is chargeable and must be booked by phone on 032 326 29 29 or by email to strasseninspektorat@biel-bienne.ch. The office can be reached Monday to Friday from 9 to 12 and from 14 to 16.

How do I find my collection zone in Biel/Bienne, and when do I put the waste out?

The city divides Biel into four zones; you can find your own via the online search «Find your zone» on biel-bienne.ch. On collection day, household waste may be put out between 5 and 7 in the morning. The 2026 collection schedule is available as a PDF and is sent out by post every year.

Where do I order a resident parking card in Biel/Bienne?

According to the city, residents who are officially registered can order online; at the counter it is done at Werkhofstrasse 8 (police inspectorate). A duplicate in case of loss or change costs CHF 20. You can reach the parking card office by phone on 032 326 18 26.

NEW ON LAKE BIEL

New in Biel/Bienne: Registration Districts and Daily Life in Two Languages

Q: Why do so many people move to Biel/Bienne?

Many come for work in the watch industry – the Swatch Group has its headquarters here, and Rolex and Omega produce in the city – others to study at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. Then there is the location on Lake Biel and at the foot of the Jura, as well as direct rail links towards Geneva, Zurich and Bern.

Q: How much does a move to Biel/Bienne cost?

The costs depend on the size of the flat, the floor, additional services and the route of around 950 km from Berlin. Guide prices are in the price overview on this page; after a survey, we give a fixed price for your home removal . Call us on 01625978461.

Residents' registration office, districts, trains and household waste: what newcomers to Biel/Bienne need to sort out in the first weeks.

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FROM BERLIN-MOABIT

Biel/Bienne Guide

Arriving in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland's Largest Bilingual City

German and French

Unsere Firma comes from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and brings your household goods to Lake Biel – this guide helps you settle in.

Biel/Bienne lies at the north-eastern end of Lake Biel at the southern foot of the Jura and, with around 57,000 inhabitants, is the tenth-largest city in Switzerland – and the largest bilingual one. German and French are official languages with equal status; according to the city, just over 55 per cent speak German and just under 45 per cent French. Street names and official letters are bilingual, and in everyday life one side usually starts the conversation and the other adapts. This makes it easy for newcomers from Germany to get started, but some French helps in daily life.

Economically, Biel is the most important centre of the Swiss watch industry: the Swatch Group has its headquarters here, Rolex a production site and Omega its factory in the Gurzelen. Several departments of the Bern University of Applied Sciences are in the city, as is the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport in Magglingen. We are not a Biel company but come from Berlin; the route and customs are described on the page Moving Berlin – Biel/Bienne.

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PERSONAL CONSULTATION

Your Move to Biel/Bienne – Quote After a Survey

Fixed price after a survey, liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB)

Whether it is a studio in the Old Town or a flat in Madretsch: after a survey, we give you a fixed price for your home removal to Biel/Bienne. Call us on 01625978461 – we will discuss the date, scope, access and the route of around 950 km. Your belongings are covered under the HGB.

Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.

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FROM BERLIN

What We Take On – and What Is Up to You in Biel

Transport from Berlin, paperwork on your side

We have no branch in Switzerland; instead we drive by lorry from Berlin-Moabit, around 950 km to Lake Biel. We clarify access, floor and stairwell in advance – in a narrow Old Town lane just as for a new building in Bözingenfeld. For your belongings we accept liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB, § 451e: €620 per m³), and additional insurance is available. You handle registration with the residents' registration office, health insurance and the parking card yourself; who takes care of the customs declaration for the household removal goods is stated in the quote.

Packing Service

We pack in Berlin and label every box by destination room, so that everything in Biel/Bienne ends up in the right room – with our packing service.

Storage

If your new flat in Biel/Bienne only becomes available later, we store your belongings in the meantime and deliver on the handover date – with storage.

Student moves

For a room at the start of your studies at the BFH in Biel/Bienne, a small van or a shared load is often enough – with our student move.

Furniture Transport

A wardrobe or piano travels padded and secured, even into a narrow period-building stairwell in Biel/Bienne – with our furniture transport.

FIRST WEEKS IN BIEL

Six Steps for Getting Started in Biel/Bienne

What needs doing after moving into Biel/Bienne, in a sensible order – from the residents' registration office to household waste. Please check details, opening hours and fees beforehand on biel-bienne.ch.

Register within 14 days

The residents' registration office at Neuengasse 28 expects you within 14 days; Swiss citizens can use eUmzugCH, EU/EFTA citizens send forms by post.

Take out health insurance

Anyone living in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance within three months; it applies retroactively from the date of arrival.

Find Your Waste Zone

Biel is divided into four collection zones; you can find your zone online and put the waste out on collection day between 5 and 7 am.

Disposing of Bulky Waste Correctly

Small bulky items up to 25 kg go out with the household waste with stickers; the road inspectorate collects heavier furniture for a fee after registration.

Trains and Trolleybuses

Biel lies on the Jura foot line Geneva–Biel–Olten–Zurich; within the city, a trolleybus network has replaced the tram since 1948.

Apply for a parking card

Registered residents order the resident parking card online or at the police inspectorate counter at Werkhofstrasse 8 – with the vehicle registration document.

FOR SMALL LOADS

Only a Little Furniture to Biel? Shared Load

A Shared Trip Towards Switzerland

With a shared load, your belongings share the load space with other consignments heading for Switzerland – suitable for BFH students or young professionals with little furniture. You need some flexibility on the delivery day; when you enquire, we will tell you whether a trip to Biel is currently planned.

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DAILY LIFE IN BIEL

What
Newcomers to Biel/Bienne Should Know

Language, Offices, Routes

In Biel/Bienne the first two weeks count: registration with the residents' registration office, then health insurance, a bank account and, if needed, a parking card. The authorities serve you in German or French, and forms are available in both languages. If you bring your car, you need Swiss number plates after one year at the latest. In the Old Town and in older buildings without a lift, we plan the moving day with more carrying time; tips for transport from Germany can be found under our long-distance moves.

Choosing a neighbourhood

Old Town, Neustadt, Madretsch or Vingelz: the district determines the stopping place, access and carrying distances – and with them the planning for a home removal, senior move or student move in Biel/Bienne.

Planning moving day

Packing service, padded furniture transport and, for single items, a small transport: we clarify the stopping place and access in advance, especially in the narrow lanes of Biel's Old Town in Biel/Bienne.

Businesses and special cases

For an office move, company relocation, public authority move, shared load or furniture taxi to Biel/Bienne, we agree time windows and clarify the customs papers in the quote.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions from Newcomers to Biel/Bienne

Registration, language, districts, household waste and moving to Biel – answered briefly.

Many come for work in the watch industry – the Swatch Group has its headquarters here, and Rolex and Omega produce in the city – others to study at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. Then there is the location on Lake Biel and at the foot of the Jura, as well as direct rail links towards Geneva, Zurich and Bern.

Ten Districts – Where Newcomers Live in Biel

Biel/Bienne is divided into ten districts: Rebberg/Vignoble, Altstadt/Vieille ville, Neustadt Nord and Neustadt Süd, Champagne, Bözingen/Boujean, Mett/Mâche, Madretsch Nord and Madretsch Süd, and Vingelz/Vigneules. Today's centre is the Neustadt (new town), built around 1900 and – especially in the station district – from 1920 onwards along Bauhaus principles.

Vingelz, Bözingen, Mett and Madretsch were separate municipalities until 1900 and 1916–1919 respectively – today they are residential districts, while Bözingenfeld is an industrial area. Which district suits you depends on your commute, school and budget; before you commit, also take a look at the stairwell and surroundings.

Flat Hunting, Work and Study in Biel

We do not quote specific rents here, because they depend heavily on location, condition and size. Search the large property portals and contact letting agencies directly, and keep your ID, proof of income and debt enforcement extract (Betreibungsauszug) ready. For registration, the city will later need a copy of the signed tenancy agreement, or confirmation from the letting agency if you are subletting.

Most jobs are linked to the watch industry with the Swatch Group, Omega and Rolex, plus administration, retail and services. The Bern University of Applied Sciences is represented with several departments, and the sports university is in Magglingen above the city. The Biel photography festival (Bieler Fototage) takes place in September, and the Biel running days with the 100 km race in June.

How Much Does a Move to Biel/Bienne Cost?

Planning a long-distance move? Then we calculate from €4.10/km. For a house or villa you receive an individual quote. For flats: four-room flat from €1,299, three-room flat from €899, two-room flat from €615 and one-room flat from as little as €354. Get advice now during a free survey.

What the price depends on

Whether a small move or a large villa – what always matters is volume, distance (from €4.10/km), floor and lift. A parking restriction zone may also be necessary. We are also happy to advise you on furniture assembly and a shared load.

Services for the move to Switzerland

We offer you a comprehensive portfolio of moving services.

House clearance – House clearance: Fast and discreet clearing.
Move with assembly – Move with assembly: For a worry-free fresh start.
Furniture transport – Furniture transport: Safe, fast, reliable.
Shared load – Shared load: The clever alternative for small quantities.
Home removal – Home removal: Tailored to you.
Company relocation – Company relocation: Efficient for your business.

From Berlin to Lake Biel – and Back

We plan moves from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21). It is around 950 km by road to Biel/Bienne, about 14 hours by lorry including breaks – more than a driver's daily driving time, so with two drivers or an overnight stop. More on long routes under long-distance moves.

Registering in Biel/Bienne: Residents' Registration Office, Deadline and Counter Hours

According to the city, anyone moving to Biel/Bienne registers with the residents' registration office (Einwohnerkontrolle) within 14 days. Swiss citizens can do this online via eUmzugCH, by post or email, or in person at the counter with the printed registration form. You must enclose a copy of your travel document (passport or identity card) and a copy of the signed tenancy agreement; if you are subletting, the city requires confirmation from the property management. If the parents of minor children are unmarried, separated or divorced, the other parent's declaration of consent is also needed. The city's website does not mention a fee; the residents' registration office provides information on request.

Address: Einwohnerkontrolle, Neuengasse 28, 2501 Biel, telephone 032 326 12 25.
Counter: Monday 9 to 11.30 and 13.30 to 18, Tuesday and Thursday 9 to 11.30 and 13.30 to 16.30, Wednesday 9 to 16.30, Friday 9 to 11.30. On Monday, 2 November 2026, the office is exceptionally closed.
EU/EFTA: The forms go by post within 14 days to the Population Department, Migration Office, Neuengasse 28; anyone moving from elsewhere in Switzerland can also use eUmzugCH.

Our guide to a long-distance move to Biel/Bienne shows what other hurdles a move from Germany involves.

Bilingual Daily Life in Biel/Bienne: Language, Household Waste and Bulky Waste

French and German are official languages with equal status in Biel/Bienne; bilingualism has been anchored in the city's constitution since 9 June 1996. According to the residents' register (as of 31.12.2025), 55.2 per cent of residents are German-speaking and 44.8 per cent French-speaking. The city systematically provides information and services in both languages, and street names are bilingual too. In everyday life the «Biel model» applies: whoever starts a conversation chooses the language, and the other person adapts.

For household waste, Biel is divided into four zones. You can find out which zone applies to your address via the city's online search; the 2026 collection schedule is available as a PDF and by post. Household waste goes in official Müve bags or in normal bags with stickers (one sticker up to 60 litres, two up to 110 litres). On collection day, put it out between 5 and 7 am; anything put out later will not be collected.

For bulky waste, the city distinguishes two routes. Small bulky items are collected with the household waste and paid for with stickers (one to three, depending on size and weight, up to 25 kilograms). Anything heavier than 25 kilograms counts as extra bulky waste: you book the chargeable collection on 032 326 29 29 or by email to [email protected]. For larger quantities, we can take the house clearance off your hands. For orientation after moving in, see the moving guide for Biel/Bienne.

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October 12, 2026

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Moving to Biel/Bienne: Costs, Process & Districts